LONG BEACH >> From younger faces who fought in recent conflicts to a 98-year-old retired Navy chief, this Saturday’s Long Beach Veterans Day Parade will honor all who served.

The 150 to 175 parade entries will include marching bands, floats, classic cars, ROTC units from high schools, drum and bugle units, veterans representing the American Legion and VFW, a motorcycle group and a mix of elected officials.

The parade will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday starting at the intersection of Atlantic Avenue and Harding Street and turning around at the 56th Street intersection.

The parade began as an idea by former 9th District Councilman Jerry Shultz to stage a major North Long Beach event. Organizers brought together a committee, and the Veterans Day Parade was formed, said Martha Thuente, parade coordinator.

“He had an idea to do an event in North Long Beach that would bring the community out and have families get together,” she said. “It’s just continued to grow over the years and we’ve really become considered the premier Veterans Day event in the area.”

Parking will be available at the vacant lot nearby that can be entered from Linden Avenue and South Street. From there, spectators will line the street to show their appreciation, Thuente said.

“It’s still totally run by volunteers and we spend the whole year putting it together,” she said. “The purpose is to honor the veterans — all branches of the military and throughout our entire history. Truly, that is what it is all about, showing our appreciation to all the men and women who have been in the armed forces and fought to guarantee the freedoms that we all enjoy today.”

The parade will last about an hour and a half from step-off, with the entries making a U-turn at 56th Street and returning to the intersection right near Houghton Park. The Honorary Grand Marshal will be Army veteran Keith McCart and the Grand Marshal will be Rear Adm. Mark D. Gaudagnini.

“Personally, I think this is increasingly important because we have more and more veterans coming back from all around the world,” Thuente said. “I think it instills a sense of pride with our children in our country.”

Beyond the parade, Vets Fest 2013 will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Houghton Park.

The festival includes performances from the Jordan Jazz Band, an Elvis Presley impersonator and Rush Hour (R&B and patriotic music). Ninth District Councilman Steven Neal will welcome the crowd and lead it in the Pledge of Allegiance and the national anthem to start things off.

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About 20 vendors will be selling goods, with most being nonprofits that serve veterans and veterans’ families, along with several health groups and food vendors serving various cuisine. A children’s area will include bouncers and face painting.

Starting the morning off, the Second Annual Veterans Mile Classic Race will be held, presented by the Long Beach Neighborhood Foundation.

The first race will start at 7:30 a.m. Multiple divisions cost between $5 and $15 to participate in. For more information and to sign up, visit VetsClassic.com.

For more information on the parade, visit www.lbveteransdayparade.com.

Jonathan Van Dyke is a reporter with Gazette Newspapers. He can be reached at jvandyke@gazettes.com.